HSM IP LTD
HSM IP Named Caribbean Firm of the Year 2025 by Managing IP
HSM IP has been named Caribbean Firm of the Year by the Managing IP Awards 2025 Americas. Mrinali Menon (HSM IP Senior Manager) accepted our award at their Awards Ceremony on 24 April 2025. More than 200 guests attended the Read more +
HSM IP Attending INTA 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California
Our HSM IP team is gearing up to attend the 2025 International Trade Mark Association’s (INTA) Annual General Meeting in California at the San Diego Convention Center from 17 to 21 May 2025. Meet Huw St.J. Moses OBE (Managing Partner), Read more +
Key Updates to IP Legislation in the Bahamas
On 25 February 2025 the Bahamas Intellectual Property Office (BahaIPO) officially announced significant updates to its IP laws, including changes to the legislation governing copyrights, patents, and trade marks. The following Laws have been introduced: The Trade Marks Act 2024: Read more +
WTR 1000 Recognises HSM IP and Huw Moses in 2025 Guide
World Trade Mark Review (WTR) has recognised HSM IP and Huw Moses in their latest guide: WTR 1000 2025 (Pan-Caribbean). This is the eighth year in a row that HSM IP has been recommended by WTR 1000. HSM IP is Read more +
IP Reform Enactment Imminent for Bermuda
As reported by HSM IP, Intellectual Property (IP) reform is in the pipeline in Bermuda, with the Government of Bermuda’s Registry General sharing recently that the enactment of its updated Trade Marks Law is anticipated later in 2024. UPDATE: HSM IP was notified on 10 September 2024 that this new trade mark legislation is due to come into effect on 1 January 2025. However, the legislation pertaining to patents is yet to be completed.
The Registry plans to update and disseminate Practice Notes to guide IP practitioners through the transition from current to new provisions.
Such guidance is likely to be welcomed by practitioners given that Bermuda’s current trade mark laws were originally enacted nearly 50 years ago, as well as the fact that the new provisions governing the validity terms of trade mark registrations is being adjusted to bring Bermuda in line with the UK and other major global jurisdictions: Bermuda’s trade mark registration and renewal periods are to be amended to cover 10-year terms, while the current registration period is seven years and renewal period 14 years.
While the new trade marks legislation received Royal Assent in late 2023, a date for the enactment is yet to be fixed, but is being eagerly anticipated by both brand owners and IP practitioners alike.
The Government’s objective in updating the legislation governing not just trade marks, but also patents, registered designs and copyrights, is to ally Bermuda’s IP legislation more closely with UK and global standards and best practices, allowing it to better compete for business.
With regard to Bermuda’s patent legislation, work is already underway to modernise the law and it will likely follow a similar course to that of the trade marks legislation.
The last update to Bermuda’s intellectual property laws occurred for the Copyrights and Designs Act, 2004. However, updates are still needed to enhance the regime, including the ability to voluntarily register copyright ownership.
HSM IP is monitoring developments and look forward to updating clients further in due course.
Click here to read HSM IP’s current Bermuda trade mark guide.